The Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts will proudly present 9-time Grammy Award Winner Jose Feliciano, acclaimed by critics around the world as “The Greatest Living Guitarist,” in a free concert on Sunday, July 20th to commemorate and celebrate the opening of the all-new Levitt Pavilion and to launch the Inaugural Summer Season in the new outdoor facility! The 9 million dollar renovation with its new band shell, guest facilities, as well as its beautifully graded and lush lawn will officially open to the public at 5PM, the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will take place at 6PM, and then – at 7PM – guitar virtuoso Jose Feliciano and his quintet will make history by giving the very first performance. And it is indeed “giving” a performance: Mr. Feliciano has donated his performance fee in order to support the ongoing Campaign for a New Levitt Pavilion, which will announce its final phase that same day.

Because this is a highly-anticipated event, free tickets will be issued in advance. They will become available ONLINE at www.levittpavilion.com and in person at the Levitt Pavilion OFFICE (260 South Compo Road – note – this is NOT the venue address) as of Tuesday, July 8th. Note: The Lawn and site will not be open to the public until 5PM on Sunday, July 20th.

Jose Feliciano Photo Credit: David Bravo.

More About Jose Feliciano

FELICIANO: A Name That is Synonymous with MUSIC. It is synonymous with an international presence that has influenced popular music for more than two generations. It is synonymous with a presence that has bridged musical styles in a way that has never been equaled. Jose Feliciano is recognized as the first Latin Artist to cross over into the English music market, opening the doors for other artists who now play an important role in the American music industry.

Feliciano has been acclaimed by critics around the world as “The Greatest Living Guitarist.” He’s been awarded over forty-five Gold and Platinum records; he has won nineteen Grammy nominations, earning nine Grammy Awards, including the LARAS Award for Lifetime Achievement. Jose Feliciano’s musical career has been immortalized with a Star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame and New York City has honored him by re-naming Public School 155 in East Harlem, “The Jose Feliciano Performing Arts School.” The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, an ancient and prestigious Papal Order of the Church has Knighted him and he’s received a Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut, for his musical, as well as humanitarian contributions to the world.

Guitar Player Magazine has awarded him “Best Pop Guitarist,” placing him in their “Gallery of the Greats,” and he’s been voted both Best Jazz and Best Rock Guitarist in the Playboy Magazine reader’s poll, as well. In 1996, Jose was selected to receive Billboard Magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Some of Feliciano’s major record releases include, “Amor Gitano,” “Light My Fire,” “Feliz Navidad” (Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2010), “Chico And The Man,” “Che Sara,” “Porque Te Tengo Que Olvidar?” “Rain,” “La Copa Rota,” ‘The Sound of Vienna” and “Affirmation” – to name but a few. Jose was also the first artist to publicly stylize the American National Anthem and, after years of controversy, is now regarded as THE patriotic pioneer of artistic interpretation and his rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner” is included in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

Being constantly in demand, Jose has performed for and with some of the most important people on Earth. He enjoys playing with many of the top symphonic orchestras including the London Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. He appears on major television shows worldwide; having done a number of his own specials and his music has been featured on television, in films and on the stage.

Born blind in Lares, Puerto Rico, Jose came to New York as a child, and launched his meteoric career in Greenwich Village. 50 years later, he continues to feel humble with all the successes he has had and remarkably, insists that he has just started to share his talents with the world.

The Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts produces one of the largest and longest-running free outdoor festivals in the nation, in a unique open-air setting located along the banks of the Saugatuck River. The Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts is dedicated to providing FREE and abundant access to the performing arts, presenting a dynamic and diverse constellation of established and emerging artists – all of whom are compensated, and preserving a beautiful outdoor community destination where people of all ages and backgrounds are always welcome to enjoy the arts, enjoy nature, and enjoy each other.

Established by the Westport community in 1973, the Levitt Pavilion remains an independent 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and has welcomed more than 1.5 million people – and counting.

May.17.18 – Jose & His Puerto Rico: Transcendental!

Some say, “You can’t go back home again” but Feliciano did just that when we returned to Puerto Rico and to the Luis A. Ferré Performing Arts Center, El Centro de Bellas Artes Luis A. Ferré in Santurce, San Juan, Puerto … Continue reading →

May.08.18 – Coming Home…

Since the beginning of Jose Feliciano’s Anniversary Year Celebration, he’s already touched-down practically all over the world. In England and Austria, in Panama and Chile, in Hong Kong and Australia and up and down the East Coast of the United … Continue reading →

Mar.19.18 — An Australian Love Affair

Finally, back home after a full two days in transit (!), Jose returned to hear about a really nice review from his concert in Adelaide; one that epitomized, really, his Australian tour experience and was typical of the audience/media reaction that … Continue reading →